Opinion

Mishal’s Top 5 WWE Matches Of The New Millennium

Published

5 years ago

May 28, 2020

Hollywood Hulk Hogan The Rock WWE WrestleMania 18

So WWE is once again up to their same old marketing tricks to sell their next big show (Backlash) to us the audience. Almost every major show of theirs has a selling point of some kind, be it a special stipulation, a big match featuring highly valued competitors, the return of a big name or a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ contest that we may never see again (but based on the track record, likely will), the company always has a tendency to try and buff up each of their respectful cards.

The strategy surrounding Backlash this year is one I personally fail to understand & find equally hilarious at the same time.

Backlash will mark the official in-ring return of Edge to a WWE ring after almost a decade away in retirement. Granted his Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania is considered to be his big comeback, that match was more of a widespread brawl as opposed to a test of the man’s abilities in the squared circle for me. Edge will have a lot to prove here, going up against one of the very best this generation has to offer in Randy Orton, a rematch that tones down the personal vendetta the two had for one another in their initial bout & instead, making this a test of who’s simply the better bell to bell.

I, like most, have no issue with this necessarily, even though there are a dozen other opponents I’d rather see ‘The Rated R Superstar’ face-off against, the quarrel really comes in with the tagline this match carries; ‘The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever’.

WWE has been known for absurdity in their marketing, their recent string of shows in Saudi Arabia is a solid example of this, the biggest possible sell of a match (or series of matches) so over-the-top that they always fail to live up to the hype. Look at the ‘Best in the world’ tournament won by Shane McMahon, ‘The Greatest Royal Rumble’, the unnecessary reunion of DX against the Brothers of Destruction or even the company quite literally naming a show ‘Great Balls of Fire’ back in 2017. The track record isn’t exactly non-existent, they’ve always pushed the boundaries in selling their product to be the grandest it can be, only this time it feels almost too forced to buy into.

As neat as the concept of an Edge vs Randy Orton wrestling match may or may not be to some, this is a hard sell, an impossible one to almost live up to because the reality is, the bar for the ‘greatest’ of anything in the wrestling industry is an insurmountable task to climb & match up to. In a way the marketing for this match is almost comical because of how odd the placement of this tagline is considering there’s been no audience to react to any of it, instead it’s making this whole debacle feel like an incredibly desperate attempt to push a sub-par rematch.

A lot of this has got me thinking, that this opportunity is an ideal time to spotlight the matches that, at least in my opinion, fit the mold of truly being ‘The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever’.

For this list, I decided to stick to matches taking place under the WWE banner since the new Millennium rather than all of history since there are simply too many matches I’d want to list from a span of time that wide. Each match on here can hold the mantle of being the ‘greatest’, whether that be from an in-ring standpoint, storytelling standpoint or the influence that it’s had on the business since. There are a plethora of NJPW, ROH & TNA matches I’d love to be on here, but that’s for a later date.

Honourable Mentions

Chris Benoit vs Triple H vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania XX

Everything a main event level match should be. Not a single moment wasted, it combines multiple storylines perfectly & resulted in one of the most genuine, emotional moments in wrestling history to close off a show.

Sami Zayn vs Shinsuke Nakamura – NXT Takeover: Dallas

Arguably the best in-ring debut of the last two decades. Not just the perfect sendoff for Sami Zayn at the end of his NXT run, but the ideal match and environment to debut an international superstar in.

‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin vs The Rock – WrestleMania X-Seven

The best bell-to-bell Championship Match in WrestleMania history. It’s wild, brutal, showcased at a ridiculous pace & contains one of the most controversial endings to a show in history.

Brock Lesnar vs Eddie Guerrero – No Way Out 2004

The ultimate feel-good match, the perfect underdog story & to this day one of the most incredible crowd reactions to a match I’ve ever seen that cemented both Brock Lesnar & Eddie Guerrero as legends.

The Undertaker vs Triple H – WrestleMania XXVIII

I can’t think of a better way to cap off the end of an era than this match. It embodies the product at the height of the industry, the action is physically punishing, it follows the previous year’s events perfectly & the storytelling is off the charts. If the match doesn’t make you cry, the post-match embrace will.

5. Sasha Banks vs Bayley – NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

Women’s wrestling has always had a bad reputation behind it until fairly recently. The WWE had long treated women as ‘inferior’ to some extent, resulting in less in-ring time, subpar storylines, a focus on looks over talent & nothing of true substance to get them to that next level they so deserve.

And then comes NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, where the reputation and focus of the division shifted almost entirely on its head in one single evening. The atmosphere in Brooklyn that evening is unlike any we’d seen from two female talents up to that point, as Sasha Banks defended her title against Bayley, arguably the hottest star in the company at that point in a match that to me, is the defining women’s match of this generation. Both women were polar opposites on a character level and being two of the Four Horsewomen made this encounter all the more special.

It features everything wrestling fans want, incredible action, fantastic storytelling, insane high-spots which will stand the test of time & most importantly, Bayley finally finding her way to the top of the mountain in NXT with every fan in the arena on their feet. There’s always quality in wrestling, but to see an entire sold-out arena on their feet in unison for a match isn’t as common as you’d think, because there wasn’t a single fan who wasn’t screaming at the top of their lungs by the matches end. To see the women reach the heights they’re at right now is a genuine relief to anyone who values their talents, but it’ll be a long time until something topples this absolute masterpiece.

4. ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan vs The Rock – WrestleMania X-8

There’s loud, there’s wild, there’s insane & then, there’s The Rock vs ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X-8.

In terms of dream matches, you’d be hard-pressed to find one with a bigger fight feel or cross-generational appeal that has the scope behind it that both Rock & Hogan brought to their match at WrestleMania X-8. It’s everything a dream match should be in my eyes, and in its execution ended up being even better than I’d hope it would be. Being live as part of the audience for this encounter must have been the most surreal experience a wrestling fan could have had at that point in time, there isn’t a single moment of this match that isn’t deafening to the ears, not a moment that doesn’t feel like this isn’t the biggest event that sport had ever put on for its fans.

Stylistically none of this would be considered a ‘mat classic’ by any means, all of it was about one thing, the characters. WWE never intended this match to be a showcase of in-ring ability, this was two of the biggest draws from the biggest generations in both company & sports history colliding in a fight to decide who truly stood out as the very best. It was more of a brawl in its execution, both Rock & Hogan delivered everything that made their characters so memorable & their finishing moves have never felt larger than they did on this evening in Toronto. Taking two of the most charismatic individuals to step into a ring at that point and have them do battle was only something we could imagine would be as great as we wanted it to be in our heads, this was one of those rare occasions when our expectations weren’t just met, but surpassed.

How this wasn’t the headline match is a decision that to this day baffles my brain.

3. CM Punk vs John Cena – Money In The Bank 2011

Money in the Bank 2011 will always hold a special place in my heart. I remember waking up at 3 am to watch this show, not having to go to school the next day because my parents were actually letting me sleep in that morning & watch what is widely considered one of the best shows of the last two decades. And despite it being a phenomenal show in its own right, much of the praise hinges on the main event, which is an example of how good WWE can be when it allows itself to be.

John Cena vs CM Punk was positioned as the ‘authority’ vs the rebel, the outsider & the dawning of a new generation on the industry. Punk, to me, represented a modern-day take on Steve Austin (albeit, without the copious amounts of consumed alcohol) taking on the establishment who wanted to hold someone like a John Cena in his position (whom you could replace with an early 2000’s Triple H, I guess) for the well-being of the product. All of this was only fueled by CM Punk publicly announcing his deal with the company was coming to an end and he fully intended to walk out with Cena’s prized WWE Championship in his hands, in his own hometown no less.

The match was the boiling point at the end of a red-hot night of wrestling, packed with fantastic matches, perfect storytelling & one of the rare times where the momentum of a WWE show never halted, not even once. Cena vs Punk capping off the night made it all the better, with the Chicago crowd ferociously supporting their hometown anti-hero. From an in-ring perspective, it’s difficult to deny this as arguably both Cena & Punk’s best across the board since neither of them missed a beat. Their in-ring chemistry was on display in full force, and with Cena’s style not fully expanding itself out yet having an in-ring talent as intelligent as Punk was the perfect counterbalance, resulting in the best non-WrestleMania main event the main roster has arguably put on since the 2000s rang in.

From the action to the unhinged crowd, to the performances of both men & the involvement of Vince McMahon, this was wrestling at its finest & a match that to this day holds up against the plethora of excellent work we get on an almost weekly basis now.

2. The Dudley Boyz vs Edge & Christian vs The Hardy Boyz – WrestleMania 2000

Easily, and without question the most innovative, defining match on this list in my opinion.

There isn’t much I can say about the first-ever Triangle Ladder Match that hasn’t already been said by every other fan that’s ever uttered a word about it. It’s one of this generations defining matches, from its unique style & risk-taking offence that left our jaws on the floor, to the ability of six young men to all at once wedge their names in the history books with a match that is still talked about to this very day.

At the time tag team wrestling certainly had taken some risks & routes to be more ingenious, none compared to what occurred here. Every moment of this contest was a thrill to behold, every move garnered a reaction, the use of all three weapons brought a different element out of each team which they went on to implement throughout their careers afterwards & each distinct trait of the team’s arsenal brought something unique to the table. None of the teams aimed to win through simply climbing the ladder, there was always a sense of them doing what they know best as opposed to following a set formula, and it makes the pacing & intrigue of this match so difficult to critique.

Regardless of how relevant tag teams are in current-day WWE, this is proof of how, when given the freedom, this style of wrestling can tear the house down & even define a generation.

1. The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania XXV

Picking between both their WrestleMania XXV & XXVI matches is a near-impossible task because both carry a legacy behind them that I can’t for the life of me select a favourite out of without feeling some sense of guilt. Both matches stand as not just my favourite WrestleMania matches, but my favourites of all-time.

Undertaker & Shawn Michaels are two of the best storytellers the business has ever seen, period. Without them, WrestleMania just wouldn’t be what it is, they’ve turned in some of the best storylines & performances on the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’ & having them collide at the 25th Anniversary of the event was poetic, almost perfect to experience as a fan. It was the story of two men who couldn’t be more different yet possessed in-ring chemistry so incredible it drops my jaw to the floor every time I re-visit these incredible spectacles.

For myself, I list their WrestleMania XXV match on here just because it’s the first of the two, and because of the need it gave fans to see the two icons go at it so badly one more time it would result in a rematch a year later, in the final match of Shawn Michaels storied career. Their initial encounter, however, was the equivalent of a young fan smashing his dolls together for 30-minutes on end, just with the very best example of how to use a character to tell a timeless story. It was the collision of the two oldest warriors in the game, two gun-slingers & two icons that built the very ring they fought in, and it delivered on every ounce of hype behind it, with so much more to offer.

The action started slow for the opening moments but surges into a world of its own. Packed with gigantic moves from out of nowhere, a moonsault that looked like it broke Michaels’ knee, a suicide dive that should have in-fact killed someone, a superkick so loud it could be heard in the rafters, a Tombstone Piledriver kickout that still gives me chills & Jim Ross providing some of the most memorable lines of commentary I’ve ever heard. Undertaker & Shawn Michaels didn’t just create the best match in the history of WrestleMania, they defined what the show represents on the evening we were witnessing its celebration. Michaels may have lost this, and the subsequent encounter the year following in heartbreaking fashion, but he eventually ended his career on the highest note a wrestler could ever imagine, crafting one of the greatest spectacles in the sport, with the greatest player in it that will stand the test of time for decades to come.

I know I started off this list saying it was impossible to name ‘The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever’, Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels from either WrestleMania is the strongest contender I can think of to carry that mantle on its own. Without a doubt my all-time favourite series of matches & a true standard-bearer for how we define the ‘greatest’ when it comes to matches in this industry.

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: WrestleMania 41 Las Vegas

Time for The Chairshot personalities to put their money where their mouths are! WreslteMania 41 predictions from the “expert” staff at TheChairshot.com and Chairshot Radio Network.

Published

5 days ago

April 18, 2025

PC Tunney

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Chairshot Staff Picks. And what better setting than WrestleMania for this article to return! This 41st edition has one of the most stacked rosters in WWE history. So, without further ado, let us get to the predictions and prognostications…

AJ – The New Day
Andrew – The New Day – No one seems to hold tag titles long anymore.
Dave – The New Day – They have earned it.
DJ – The New Day – Feel tha Powah!
DPP – War Raiders – Big E distraction.
Jason – The New Day – We are not getting E in a working capacity though everyone wants it.
Patrick – The New Day – WWE doesn’t care about this match, so why should I?
Rey – The New Day – Its a New Day, bruh.
Rob – The New Day – New Day rocks and wins!
Greg – The New Day – New. Day wins. New. Day wins!

Tunney’s Take: War Machine – Yes, WAR MACHINE. I have personally had the pleasure of throwing back a few cold ones with these guys on more than one occasion. Not only being tag champs in WWE but defending the titles at Mania and against The New Day is really cool for me as a long-time fan. Would it be fun to see The New Day have another title run.. YES. I think it’s smarter to give the War Raiders a big Mania W.

Chairshot Pick: THE NEW DAY 9-2

AJ – Jade Cargill
Andrew – Jade Cargill – She needs to stay a dominant force.
Dave – Jade Cargill – Gotta gear her up for the long term.
DJ – No contest – Naomi puts another beat down on Jade.
DPP – Jade Cargill – Nervous for how this match will go.
Jason – Naomi – Way more runway with Naomi as a bad guy. Keep it going!
Patrick – Jade Cargill – Jade gets her revenge.
Rey – Jade Cargill – Best non-title feud going. Naomi should win but Jade sneaks by.
Rob – Naomi – Naomi gets help to win.
Greg – Jade Cargill – They ain’t beating Jade here.

Tunney’s Take: Jade Cargill – I imagine WWE sees Jade’s ceiling much higher than Naomi’s. What better way to keep Jade climbing the ladder towards a World Title than to pick up a decisive victory in Vegas!

Chairshot Pick: Jade Cargill 8-2-1

AJ – Jacob Fatu – “AJ does a pretty good LA Knight impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – I’m biased, Jacob for President.
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Getting gold back in the Bloodline is smart.
DJ – Jacob Fatu
DPP – Jacob Fatu
Jason – Jacob Fatu – Thanks for coming pal, YEAH!
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – C’mon cuz! All gas no brakes with it. Yadadamean??
Rob – LA Knight – Solo costs Jacob.
Greg – LA Knight – Solo screws Jacob.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – It has been quite the journey for the Samoan Werewolf. I feel like that journey and the positive turn around it has taken deserves to be rewarded. Let’s see what Jacob can do on his own. Plus, LA Knight is ready to challenge for a World Title.

Chairshot Pick: Jacob Fatu 9-2

AJ – Tiffany Straton
Andrew – Tiffany Straton – I hate Charlotte Flair, no objectivity here.
Dave – Charlotte Flair – Tiffy might be the future, but she kinda failed the litmus test.
DJ – Charlotte Flair – The Queen crowns the freshman.
DPP – Tiffany Stratton
Jason – Charlotte Flair – Tiff wasn’t ready for this spot. Charnos is inevitable.
Patrick – Charlotte Flair – Lol Charlotte wins.
Rey – Charlotte Flair – Tiffany SHOULD win but, if Charlotte can squash, she will.
Rob – Charlotte Flair – Charlotte gets number 15.
Greg – Tiffany Stratton – Lol Charlotte wins. (Actually she doesn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Charlotte Flair – Charlotte needs the title for the first time in her career. Tiffy has had a nice run but now needs to take that all important step of not losing momentum after losing the title. Despite the drama and lackluster build here, I see a really good match coming this weekend from these two.

Chairshot Pick: Charlotte Flair 7-4

AJ – El Grande Americano
Andrew – El Grande Americano – I’d like to see Gable gain some momentum. Rey is Teflon.
Dave – El Grand Americano – He needs a marque win much more than Rey.
DJ – Rey Mysterio
DPP – El Grande Americano – Grande wins with the switcheroo to prove he is not Gable.
Jason – Rey Mysterio – Unmask Grande at the end. It is fun but has a shelf life.
Patrick – El Grande Americano – TOTALLY NOT CHAD GABLE
Rey – Rey Mysterio – Someone’s mask is coming off and it ain’t Rey.
Rob – El Grande Americano
Greg – Rey Mysterio – Hall of Famer wins but doesn’t take the mask.

Tunney’s Take: Rey Mysterio – Go listen to DWI 471. DP, Greg and I lay out exactly what this match should be, FUN! Multiple Americanos!!!

Chairshot Pick: El Grande Americano 6-5

AJ – Jey Uso
Andrew – Jey Uso – Kinda booked themselves into a corner here.
Dave – Jey Uso – It just makes sense.
DJ – Jey Uso – Jey YEETS all over The Ring Genreal.
DPP – Jey Uso – Jey wins after normal Gunther beating.
Jason – Jey Uso – Land the plane man. YEET
Patrick – Jey Uso – Jey has earned this one.
Rey – Jey Uso – YEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Rob – Jey Uso – YEET
Greg – Jey Uso – If Jey loses we riot. We don’t cause he wins.

Tunney’s Take: Jey Uso – ‘Til sweat drop down my balls, ‘Til all these bitches crawl, ‘Til all… YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chairshot Pick: Jey Uso 11-0

AJ – Roman Reigns
Andrew – Seth Rollins – I can see Rollins being the last piece of Team Rock.
Dave – Roman Reigns – I can’t see Roman losing two years in a row.
DJ – Seth Rollins – Paul Heyman is a Seth Freakin Rollins guy.
DPP – Seth Rollins – The Rock helps Rollins.
Jason – Roman Reigns – Seth’s favor is a red herring. Make-A-Wish Brooks got his main, now look at the lights.
Patrick – Seth Rollins – Seth Rollins… Paul Heyman guy.
Rey – Seth Rollins – I smeeeeellllllll a new soul to sell.
Rob – Roman Reigns – Paul Heyman helps Roman win.
Greg – Seth Rollins – Brock Lesnar returns to help Seth win.

Tunney’s Take: CM Punk – I really have no idea here. I picked Punk because nobody else did. This is going to be professional wrestling cinema at its finest. The story is thick and neatly woven. All the participants are legends and so are the potential party crashers. Will The Rock stick his nose in here? Will Brock Lesnar return to play a factor? Obviously, Paul Heyman has a Plan A… but what is it? All these questions and more will be answered Saturday as night 1 will definitely go out with a bang!

Chairshot Pick: Seth Rollins 6-4-1

AJ – Iyo Sky
Andrew – Iyo Sky – Rhea vs Bianca doesn’t need a belt to be compelling.
Dave – Rhea Ripley – Going with Rhea barely, hoping Iyo wins.
DJ – Iyo Sky – Unfinished business.
DPP – Iyo Sky – Rhea and Bianca are too consumed with each other.
Jason – Iyo Sky – More layers to Rhea/Bianca. Iyo rules.
Patrick – Iyo Sky – Iyo stole the build and gets the win.
Rey – Iyo Sky – Smart money is on the underdog champ.
Rob – Iyo Sky – Iyo survives.
Greg – Bianca Belair – Naomi helps Bianca win and turn heel.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – Rhea is the best women’s wrestler in the world. Give her the biggest win on the grandest stage of them all!!! Bianca needs to go full heel. Iyo has been amazing in this build.

Chairshot Pick: Iyo Sky 8-2-1

AJ – Dominik Mysterio
Andrew – Finn Balor – I can see a Judgement Day meltdown incoming.
Dave – Bron Breakker – Bron is about to become a MegaStar.
DJ – Bron Breakker – Judgement Day implodes.
DPP – Dominik Mysterio – Finn take the pin.
Jason – Penta – I literally do not care because the winner is us, the fans.
Patrick – Bron Breakker – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Dominik Mysterio – Only match without a clear winner. I choose chaos.
Rob – Bron Breakker – Finn and Dom cancel each other out.
Greg – Dominik Mysterio – Dom steals the pin from Bron, on Finn.

Tunney’s Take: Bron Breakker – The case can be made for any of these four to walk away with the most prestigious non-World title in pro wrestling history. The short of it is though that the Main Event picture isn’t really readily accessible for Breakker right now. Let this IC reign go through the summer, to SummerSlam.

Chairshot Pick: Bron Breakker 5-4-1-1

AJ – Damian Priest – “AJ does a pretty good Drew impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Drew McIntyre – Priest has not been interesting in this face incarnation.
Dave – Drew McIntyre – Time for Drew to get that win back.
DJ – Fuck finish – To be continued at Backlash.
DPP – Drew McIntyre – Physical matchup!
Jason – Drew McIntyre – Either one is fine here.
Patrick – Drew McIntyre – With two eyes, Drew turns the tide.
Rey – Drew McIntyre – Low key match of the weekend.
Rob – Damien Priest
Greg – Damien Priest – Priest wins, Drew tweets about it half hour later.

Tunney’s Take: Drew McIntyre – With the addition of the Street fight rules, these two behemoths have a really good chance to have one of the best matches of the entire weekend (winks at Rey Ca$h-A-Mania)! I do wonder what is next for both of these talents moving forward. Priest has staled since leaving the Judgement Day and Drew seems stuck in the same cycle for a while now. Very interested to see what the summer holds for this pair.

Chairshot Pick: Drew McIntyre 7-3-1

WHO WILL BE RANDY’S OPPONENT?!?

AJ – Nick Aldis – Orton wins
Andrew – Orton and Aldis vs Solo and Tama – Orton and Aldis win
Dave – Someone is getting an RKO!
DJ – A segment w/ the Wyatt s6cks.
DPP – Rusev – Aldis introduces Rusev who defeats Orton.
Jason – Nick Aldis – You got one more in ya, bubba. Aldis wins!
Patrick – Nick Aldis
Rey – Solo then Rusev – Solo in a squash and Rusev MATCHKA(wins)
Rob – Nick Aldis – Aldis proves himself, Orton wins.
Greg – Nick Aldis – Orton beats Aldis, they shake after.

Tunney’s Take: I would really love to see a singles match between Orton and Aldis. More likely this is some type of involvement with Solo and Tama. Rusev as a surprise challenger would be cool but, I feel that would be better left for RAW. An impromptu Goldberg retirement match would be crazy and fun, yet highly unlikely and illogical. Whatever happens, best believe exactly what Dave Ungar said, “Someone is getting an RKO!”.

AJ – Logan Paul
Andrew – AJ Styles – Logan doesn’t need the rub and should stay upper mid card.
Dave – Logan Paul – It’s the smart move and would be a statement win for Paul.
DJ – Logan Paul – Kross gets involved somewhere.
DPP – AJ Styles – AJ wins a great high-flying match.
Jason – AJ Styles – Just enjoy it or get a beer, nerds.
Patrick – Logan Paul – Logan Paul will main-event Mania sooner than later…
Rey – Logan Paul – Pass the torch, my wily vet.
Rob – Logan Paul – Kross helps Paul win.
Greg – AJ Styles – Styles wins after Paul’s cheating backfires.

Tunney’s Take: Logan Paul – Logan seems to really have dedicated himself to becoming great in this business. Anyone with that type of goal must have a World title on their mind. Beating AJ at Mania will be a great springboard for Logan into the Main Event sooner than later (winks at Patrick O’Dowd).

Chairshot Pick: Logan Paul 7-4

AJ – Liv & Raquel
Andrew – Liv & Raquel – Not really a fan of Lyra, she needs more work.
Dave – Liv & Raquel – This Bayley and Lyra team makes no damn sense.
DJ – Liv & Raquel – Bayley crashes out.
DPP – Liv & Raquel – Bayley continues a potential heel turn tease.
Jason – Bayley & Lyra – Finish the story!
Patrick – Bayley & Lyra – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Liv and Raquel – Bayley want a title but it ain’t the ones in this match.
Rob – Liv & Raquel – Champs retain.
Greg – Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel retain thanks to Carlito and maybe JD.

Tunney’s Take: Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel need to be kept as the cornerstone of the women’s tag division for a lengthier period of time. Building tag teams in this division is difficult enough, let alone without a North Star.

Chairshot Pick: Liv & Raquel 9-2

AJ – Cody Rhodes
Andrew – Cody Rhodes – They are mentioning it so much, I don’t think 17 happens.
Dave – Joh Cena – Record falls and we head to summer with a built-in storyline.
DJ – John Cena – Some kind of Final Boss involvement.
DPP – John Cena – Cena wins and retires on RAW.
Jason – John Cena – Story’s over, “Captain” BIG MATCH JOHN.
Patrick – John Cena – A record breaking night for Cena.
Rey – John Cena – They’d be really stupid to turn John just to lose. (Post-Mania: Rock, Cena, T Scott, Seth & Drew, TEAM Corporate)
Rob – Cody Rhodes – Cody surprises us with the W.
Greg – Cody Rhodes – Cody wins to piss off Rock and set the table for Cena to turn back face. Crowd is behind Cena all the way through.

Tunney’s Take: Cody Rhodes – They had me until the threat of retirement. Been there. Done that. Didn’t fall in love with it back then. I love John Cena. I love this final run. John will get his 17th just not here. I expect nothing less than an absolute GEM of a match here to close WrestleMania 41. This has all been, is, and will continue to be about Cody Rhodes. WM40 defeats Roman Reigns. WM41 defeats John Cena. WM42 defeats The Rock (The Final Boss).

Chairshot Pick: John Cena 6-5

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We wait all year for this so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

For the latest, greatest and up to datest in coverage, opinions, and podcasts ALWAYS #UseYourHead and visit TheCharishot.com

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DeMarco: Top 5 Non-Title WrestleMania Matches In WWE History

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show & defined legacies. #WrestleMania #WWEHistory

Published

6 days ago

April 16, 2025

Greg DeMarco

Shawn Michaels Kurt Angle WrestleMania 21

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show and defined legacies.

WrestleMania is the Showcase Of The Immortals, but it’s not always the championship matches that steal the show—or define careers. In fact, some of the most iconic, business-defining, and emotionally resonant contests at the Grandest Stage of Them All didn’t feature a title at all. These matches succeeded because of character work, in-ring execution, and the kind of storytelling that sells tickets and moves merch.

Here are the five best non-title matches in WrestleMania history—at least, according to me!

5. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan – WrestleMania X8 (2002)

This was never going to be a five-star technical clinic—but it was always going to be the moment. “Icon vs. Icon” was a tagline, sure, but it was also the reality: the biggest star of the ‘80s vs. the biggest star of the Attitude Era. And Toronto turned it into magic. Hogan walked in a heel but walked out immortal (again), with the SkyDome shaking on every punch, every look, every gesture.

What made this work was its self-awareness. Rock and Hogan read the crowd and flipped roles mid-match—Rock became the arrogant aggressor while Hogan Hulked Up to thunderous applause. It’s not often a non-title match headlines a card emotionally the way this one did, but it dominated every headline and highlight reel.

4. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania X (1994)

Sibling rivalries don’t usually lead to technical masterpieces, but then again, this wasn’t your average family drama. Owen and Bret opened WrestleMania X with a wrestling clinic that stood tall over a night packed with title changes. Owen needed to prove he was more than Bret’s little brother, and he did it by out-wrestling the best wrestler in the company. Clean. One-two-three.

It wasn’t just a great match—it was perfect storytelling. Owen’s victory, contrasted with Bret’s later world title win, set the tone for an entire year of brother-vs-brother tension. Bret became champion, but Owen had the moral victory—and all the bragging rights. This is proof that opening matches can steal the show.

3. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25 (2009)

If WrestleMania moments could be trademarked, this match would be the reason why. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels wasn’t about championships—it was about legacy. Michaels wanted to be the man who ended The Streak. The build was steeped in biblical imagery: light vs. dark, heaven vs. hell. And the match? Pure perfection. Each man brought everything they had—near-falls, psychology, reversals that had 70,000+ people gasping in unison.

It was 30 minutes of generational storytelling that transcended pro wrestling. And here’s the kicker—it wasn’t even the main event. Yet it dwarfed everything that followed. Meltzer gave it 4.75 stars, fans gave it their hearts, and WWE gave it a sequel the next year. A match so good it forced the company to run it back—because lightning actually struck.

Now, if THIS MATCH is #3, what could possible be #2 and #1…

2. Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13 (1997)

This wasn’t just a match—it was the turning point of an era. The Submission Match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin was as violent as it was poetic, with Ken Shamrock enforcing the rules and the Chicago crowd growing more frenzied by the second. The brilliance? The shift. Bret Hart, the traditionalist hero, grew darker and more self-righteous by the second, while the disrespectful anti-hero Austin refused to quit, even when drowning in his own blood. There was no title on the line, but the stakes felt bigger than gold.

The infamous double turn changed the business. Austin’s defiance turned him into the voice of a new generation of fans—blue collar, anti-authority, Attitude Era. Meanwhile, Bret would go on to lead the heel Hart Foundation. WWE didn’t need a championship to create a moment that catapulted Austin into superstardom and ignited the company’s hottest era. This match is business-first booking at its absolute best.

1. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 21 (2005)

Dream matches often disappoint. This one didn’t. At WrestleMania 21, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle went hold-for-hold and spot-for-spot with Mr. WrestleMania himself, and together they delivered a masterclass in in-ring psychology. Every sequence had stakes, every near-fall had meaning. It was a stylistic war: Michaels’ heart vs. Angle’s intensity.

Angle forcing Michaels to tap was a statement—it told fans that pure wrestling, not just spectacle, could still main-event caliber storytelling without any need for a title. Michaels sold the ankle lock like death, and Angle’s post-match collapse sold the moment as a hard-fought war. This is the kind of match that keeps purists up at night, smiling, and leaves the storytelling fans like myself as happy as can be!

10 Honorable Mentions (Not Honorable, Just For The Heck Of It)

Edge vs. Mick Foley – WrestleMania 22 (2006)
A hardcore war that solidified Edge as a top-tier main eventer. That flaming table spear is still played in every Edge highlight reel.
AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon – WrestleMania 33 (2017)
Everyone expected smoke and mirrors—what they got was a surprisingly technical, high-energy opener that kicked off the show right.
The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania 28 (2012)
“End of an Era” wasn’t just a tagline. The Hell in a Cell match, with HBK as referee, was a brutal epilogue to a generation’s legacy.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – WrestleMania XIX (2003)
A student-teacher battle of wills. Jericho’s low blow post-match was the perfect heel punctuation to a career-defining contest.
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins – WrestleMania 31 (2015)
The greatest RKO of all time. That curb stomp reversal belongs in a museum.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show – WrestleMania XXIV (2008)
More sports-entertainment than wrestling, but a crossover moment that made mainstream headlines and paid off with a great finish.
Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis – WrestleMania III (1987)
A retirement match with big heat, a hot crowd, and Piper walking off into the sunset (for a minute).
The Firefly Funhouse Match – John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt – WrestleMania 36 (2020)
Cinematic weirdness at its best. A meta masterstroke that broke Cena down in layers.
Bad Bunny & Damian Priest vs. The Miz & John Morrison – WrestleMania 37 (2021)
Bad Bunny stunned everyone. He didn’t just belong—he elevated the show.
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio – WrestleMania 39 (2023)
Father vs. son in a grudge match that played perfectly off real-life drama and Hall of Fame weekend emotions.

Some of these matches shaped legacies. Others shifted eras. But all of them proved that the most memorable moments at WrestleMania don’t need a title—they just need truth in the storytelling and fire in the execution.